Display sign



Feb. 14, 1939.v B. N. REAMER.

DISPLAY SIGN Filed June 2, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Ben 20/2 N Reamer BY 0.

ATTORNEY B. N. REAMER Feb. 14, 1939.

DISPLAY SIGN Filed June 2, 1938 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 INVENTOR fan lV. Reamer Ben BY ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES 7 DISPLAY SIGN Benton N. Reamer, Jersey City, N. J. Application June 2, 1938, Serial No. 211,369

6 Claims.

The invention relates to display signs and has particularly todo with an advertising device for displaying two sets of. subject matter on either outdoor or indoor signs.-

Signs of this nature, particularly in outdoor locations, areexpensive to install and rentals are high. It is therefore of considerable advantage tozthe advertiser to utilize a sign in which two aspects of his product may be shown in one sign. It. is also well known that a movable sign attracts a great deal more attention from the public. Signs built in accordance with the invention have many possibilities, for instance, in one display the sign may show suitable printed matter relating to the advertised product and in the other display one or more pictures may be shown that are pertinent to the product.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide a simple, rugged and durable sign that will function efliciently with practically no attention. A further object is to provide a sign that will withstand extreme weather conditions, particularly high Winds.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this specification proceeds. Referring to the vdrawings forming a part thereof andin which one embodiment of the invention is illustrated:

Fig. 1 is a front-elevation, parts being broken away forclearer illustration;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail sectional view showing the curtain or movable sign being displayed.

Referring again to the its operating mechanism are supported on suitable structural members generally indicated by the reference character 5. The structural ardrawings the sign and rangement may vary widely in formation, one

7 function which will hereinafter be described.

The movable sign which is moved upwardly.

and downwardly over the fixed sign 9 so as to PATENT OFFICE uncover or cover said fixed signcomprises a curtain I upon which suitable advertising matter may be painted or posted. The curtain has a boom ll secured to its front end and another boom I2 secured to its rear end.

The curtain passes over a roller l3 coextensive with the width of the curtain and having suitable bearings in the structural members5. Idler rollers I' l may be provided to support the drum or roller I3 intermediate the bearings.

Secured to the ends of the front and back booms H and I2 are shock absorbing springs l5 which have their opposite ends secured to sprocket chains l6. The sprocket chains it are driven by sprockets I! mounted on a shaft I8 which in turn is geared to and driven by a reversing motor l9. The sprocket chains pass over idler guide rollers 20.

The front boom ll carries on either end guiderollers 2| which engage tracks 22 at either end of the sign. The tracks 22 diverge downwardly from the face of the sign 9 and their lower ends are curved inwardly as shown at 23 in Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 2 shows the movablesign or curtain in its midway position and Fig. 3 illustrates the 25 curtain or movable sign completely covering the sign proper.

It will be noted in Fig. 2' the curtain is held away from the face'of the sign 9 by virtue of the guide rollers 2| on the boom ll engaging the 3 tracks 22. The same condition holds true when the guide rollers are in the upper parts of the tracks and the sign proper 9is fully exposed. It likewise holds true as the movable sign or curtain moves downwardly from the position of 3 Fig. 2 and practically all the time the curtain is moving; In this way the face of the sign 9 is never scratched or marred by the moving curtain.

As the guide rollers 2| move into the curved part 23 of the tracks 22 the movable sign or curtain is drawn inwardly and in the lowermost position of the movable sign as illustrated in Fig. 3 the curtain contacts the face of the sign. At this time the movable sign on the curtain is being displayed and the permanent sign 9 acts as an effective backing to insure against the sign buckling or being injured by high winds. While as heretofore stated the permanent sign-9 slopes inwardly toward the bottom the same result might be accomplished by having the permanent sign perpendicular and the angle of divergence of the 22 diverging downwardlyfrom the face of the sign.

A panel 25 may be provided over which the curtain may ride when in its retracted position.

The open space 6 heretofore mentioned provides ample room for the curtain to be withdrawn without interfering with any of the structural members.

The reciprocable or movable sign or curtain 10, as heretofore stated, carries suitable advertising matter either painted or posted on its face. 'An- 7 other of the important aspects of the invention is that the face of the sign never contacts any moving or stationary part of the sign, thus it will never be scratched or marred as would be the case where the curtain rolls up on a roller or is a continuous curtain passing over a plurality of rollers or drums. V

7 It will be apparent from Fig. 1 that a very realistic sign is provided. None of the moving or operating parts are exposed and a person will for a short period of time view the permanent sign on which for point of illustration the letters X Y Z are printed and they will then view for a short period of time the sign on the movable curtain on which appears by way of example the letters A B C. The time of transition from the display of thepermanent sign to the display of the sign on the reciprocating curtain is short thus increasing the efiectiveness of the sign.

Such changes in details of construction and arrangements of parts as might be made by one skilled in the art are to be considered as coming within the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A display sign having in combination, an upright permanent sign, a reciprocating curtain bearing a sign, means for moving said reciprocating curtain so as to cause it to alternately cover and uncover said permanent sign, and means for holding said curtain away from said permanent sign while said curtain is moving and for holding said curtain in contact with said permanent sign when said permanent sign is covered.

2. A display sign having in combination, an upright permanent sign, a reciprocating curtain bearing a sign, tracks for guiding said reciprocating curtain, means for moving said reciprocating curtain in relation to said tracks so as to cause it to alternately cover and uncover said permanent sign, and means forholding said ourtain away from said' permanent sign while said curtain is moving and for holding said curtain in contact with said permanent sign when said permanent sign is covered. a

3. A display sign having in combination, an upright permanent sign, a reciprocating curtain bearing a sign, tracks for guiding said reciprocating curtain, intwined curved portions on the lower ends of said tracks, and means for moving said reciprocating curtain in. relation to said tracks so as to cause it to alternately cover and uncover said permanent sign, said tracks acting to hold said curtain away from said permanent sign while said curtain is moving and to hold said curtain in contact with said permanent sign when said permanent sign is covered.

4. A display sign having in combination, an upright permanent sign, a reciprocating curtain bearing a sign, a drum positioned above said permanent sign over which said curtain moves, the face of said permanent sign being substantially tangent to the circumference of said drum, tracks for guiding said reciprocating curtain, said tracks having straight-away portions and intwined curved portions on their lower ends, said straightaway portions diverging downwardly from the face of the sign, and means for moving said reciprocating curtain in relation to said tracks so as to cause it to alternately cover and uncover said permanent sign.

5. A display sign having in combination, an upright permanent sign, a reciprocating curtain bearing a sign, a boom extending along the forward edge of said curtain, guide rollers carried at either end of said boom, tracks with which said guide rollers cooperate, intwined curved portions on the lower ends of said tracks, and means for moving said reciprocating curtain in relation to said tracks so as to cause it to alternately cover and uncover said permanent sign, said tracks acting to hold said curtain away from said permanent sign while said curtain is moving and to hold said curtain in contact with said permanent sign when said permanent sign is covered.

6. A display sign having in combination, an upright permanent sign, a reciprocating curtain bearing a sign, booms extending along the forward and rear edges of said curtain, a drum p0- sitioned above said permanent sign over which said curtain moves, guide rollers carried at either end of the boom extending along the forward edge of said curtain, tracks with which said rollers cooperate, intwined curved portions on the lower ends of said tracks, sprocket chains secured to both ends of said booms, a driving sprocket to cause said sprocket chains to move said reciprocating curtain so as to alternately cover and uncover said permanent sign, said tracks acting to hold said curtain away from said permanent sign while said curtain is movingand to hold said curtain in contact with said permanent sign when said permanent sign is covered and means for driving said sprocket first in one direction and then the other.

BENTON N. REAMER. 

